3437. Adelaide Sartoris to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 249–250.
Casino Chiappa
Tuesday June 27th [1854] [1]
Dear Mrs Browning—we got home between 2 & 3 yesterday morning—arrived at Pisa we found the other train gone, & there was nothing for it but waiting an hour & a half while they prepared a carriage to take us on—we took care however to have an open one, & the drive to Lucca where we arrived at a little past eleven was inexpressibly beautiful & charming, altho really very cold, a lovely starry heaven—the lower air one mass of fire flies, & the banks by the road side literally covered with glow worms– I never saw such a sight before, generally one sees glow worms here & there & the way in which one calls out whenever one sees them is a proof of their comparative scarcity—but they were not to be counted lying there upon the same bank, & making quite an illumination of pale cool light with their dear little green lamps– Yesterday I did nothing but look at lodgings for you (or rather for me so don’t be grateful) the lodging by the river & by me,—tell your husband,—is dear & a nasty place—so nasty I think, now I have seen it, that if it were cheap I should not like you to have it—but I have seen one that appears to me just perfect for you, & since find that Mrs Stisted has also written to recommend it to you—it is the prettiest place I ever saw—a charming apartment, with all the room you want—a large well kept garden full of flowers, on the side of the road you like, very near me, in short I am in a perfect agony lest it should slip thro’ your fingers[—]they have been disappointed of a Russian family who were to have come, & who have thrown them over after keeping them waiting, & will let it now for 70 francesconi [2] without linen or silver—still if you would <could> [3] decide immediately about it & let me know by return of post, they would perhaps let it go for 60—if they won’t let it go for 60—will you give the 70? You have no idea how nice it is—there are the two sitting rooms ready prepared for you—in short it seems to me the very thing that would suit you entirely, it is all on the ground floor, so you would have no climbing—that is,—on the ground floor of the garden—for it is raised by a little staircase above the road—& at the end of the garden there is an other exit on a good carriage road– I hope you will have by this time received the letter that will decide your stay & that the day after tomorrow, I shall receive the welcome commission to secure for you this paragon of apartments– Will you do me one favor more if you come? Will you bring me two or three pieces of Orris root? & a good pocket Greek Lexicon? it does not matter in what other language—it may be Greek & English—Greek & French[—]Greek & Italian—Greek & German– I should be very much obliged if you would do this for me? Dear Mrs Browning I enjoyed my little run to Florence very much, but very much more than anything else your & your husbands great kindness to me—it is very pleasant to be so greeted & welcomed! Come soon—we will do as much for you!
Yrs affectionately
Adelaide Sartoris
Address: Madame / Mme Browning– / Poste Restante / Firenze.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Equivalent to about fifteen and a half pounds. The year before, the Brownings had paid fifty Francesconi (about eleven pounds) for thirteen weeks’ rent at Casa Tolomei (see letter 3231).
3. Mrs. Sartoris has written “could” above “would.”
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